Five states to boost students’ time in school

Supporters of extended learning time concede the extra hours alone won’t fix the shortcomings of the nation’s struggling public school systems, but do see the movement as a significant step in the right direction.

Mr. Malloy, the Connecticut governor who has drawn praise for increasing education funding in his state by about $100 million, said he views more classroom time as one way to level the playing field between students in affluent districts and those in lower-income areas.

“The idea that we can tolerate different levels of achievement based on geography, or race, or wealth, or home ownership, simply does not make any sense,” he said at Monday’s press conference.